Method and machine for assembling venetian blind headbars



H. NELSON July 22, 1952 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLIND HEADBARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31, 1946 FIG.7'

INVENTOR HARRY NELSON E N Wm H. NELSON July 22, 1952 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLIND HEADBARS 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Aug. 51, 1946 INVENTOR ww l u m w l Ms M Mn A 5 WH July 22, 1952 H. NELSON METHOD AND IIACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLIND HEADBARS Filed 1m 51, 1946 'lnnll llnu FIGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARRY NELSON BY HIS ATTORNEYS July 22, 1952 H.)NELSON 2,603,856

- METHODUAND MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLIND HEADBARS Filed Aug. :51, 1946 4 SheeCs-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HARR NELS /v FIG 6 BY 0 W w-fm HIS ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1952 METHOD ANDMACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING vnn TmN BLIND HEADBARS Harry Nelson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Lorentzen' Hardware Mfg. Corp, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application august 31, 1946, Serial No. 694,237

This invention relates to a machine forassembling metal fittings on a Venetian blind head barb The invention is directed to the provision "of a machine for quickly and accuratelyassembling fittings on a Venetian blindhead bar on a production basis. It is particularly adapted to the assembly of fittings on the type of head bar disclosed in my pending application Ser. No. 601,671, filed June 26; 1945, Patent No. 2,455,135, granted November 30, 1948, such type of head bar being also. shown'in Fig.8 of the drawings herewith. The fittings contemplated are pulleys, cord locks,

tilter mechanisms, cradles, and other devices which it may bedesired to assemble with ahead bar. V

In the form disclosedthe machine comprises'a structure in which a series of fixtures, which receive the fittings and act as anvil or die members, are mounted upon a carriage which is movable along a track so as to successively positioneach ofthe fixturesunder an air operated plunger or pressure head. The pressure-applying surface of the plunger is so slotted as to'telescopically'cooperatewith any of the fixtures. Each of thejfix tures is adapted to receive a particular fittingi The headbanwhich is preferablylight gage sheet steel which has already been so stamped as-to provide pairs of projecting tabs for insertion through and crimping over the fittings, is succes sively positioned over the several fixtures'and the fittings carried thereby. The fixtures have upstanding portions which pass through'slots formed in-the head bar by the previous stamping operation, thus accurately positioningthe-head bar" and guiding the tabs through the complementary apertures in the fittings". After the head bar'has'b'een positioned on a fixture, the fixture carriage may be pushed-tea position'beneath the air-operated plunger. 'Then, upon. operation of the plunger; it applies pressure to force the head bar and fitting telescopically downwardly on the fixture, during which movement the projectingtabs of the head bar are crimped against the fitting to permanently and firmly secure the fitting to the head bar. This operation is sim ilarly performed in connection with the other fittings and the'fixtureson which they are posttlOIleCL- f: .An. object of this invention is'to'provide a ma- I chinezfor easily and quickly attaching fittings' to a. Venetian blind headbar. 7 I 'Another" object of the invention is-to provide such a machine which will maintain correct rela tive position between a Venetian blind head ba r 10 Claims. (01. 29-148) and the fittings to be attached thereto during the attaching operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine that will aid in rapidly and correctly positioning fittings on a Venetian blind head bar.

A further object is to prevent accidental transposition and/or reversal of fittings being installed along a Venetian blind head bar. 1

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. 7 a a My invention is defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as wellas in the description, parts are at times identified by specific names for clarity and convenience but suchv nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with, the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form, in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention. I 1 g g Fig.2 is a top plan view'of thetrack and carriage for moving the fixtures beneath the plunger or pressure head, the view having certain portions broken'away to reveal details of construction. Fig. 3 is a right-side elevation of the carriage and track, certain portions being broken awayto reveal details of construction. I Fig; 4 is a fragmentary right-side elevation o the carriage and'track, a portion of the track being omitted and the View showing the carriage inthe depressed position which is imposed upon it by the action of the pressure head. Fig. 5 is a front-end elevation of the carriage and track, showing a head bar and-fitting inposition'for' attachment. Fig. 6 is a View corresponding tofFig.- 5'but showing the p'osition'of the parts justafterthe pressure head has-completed the attachment of the fitting to the head bar; V Fig. '7 is a bottom plan viewof the plungeror pressure head.

I Fig. 8 is aperspective view of a head'bar channel in the inverted positionit occupies duringthe attaching operation. The view showstwo fittings t h and two fittings in explodedrelatio ship to the head bar. a

R eferring to the drawings, and particularly to- Figs; 1 and' '2,'a track I0 is mounted'ihisubsmfi;

, tially em-mm position on a framework I];

which supports the track at a convenient height from the floor for operation of the machine. An air motor l2 of conventional design is mounted on a bracket I4 which is secured to one side of the track NJ, the motor being connected with a suitable supply of compressed air, notshown, by a pipe I5. A conventional air cleaner l6 and a conventional lubricator I! may be used in the air line to supply properly conditioned air to theair motor l2. An adjustable pressure reduction valve I9 is preferably located in the air-supply line to regulate'the pressure at which the air is delivered to the motor. I

A valve for controlling the operation of the air motor I2 is mounted thereon and is connected to a pedal 2| by a wire 22, the pedal being mounted on a pivot 24 on the framework II for con-' venient operation by the machine operator. The

valve 20 is normally biased to closed position. A

spring 25 normally maintains the pedal 2| in raised inoperative position, thus permitting the valve 2|! to close, in which position a pressure head 26, which is mounted on the air motor [2 and reciprocated thereby, is in raised position. 7

Depressionof the pedal 2| opens the valve 20, admitting compressed air to the motor cylinder and causing the plunger or pressure head 26 to be forced downwardly. The pressure head 26 remains in lowered position until such time as the pedal 2| is released, whereupon valve 20 closes and the air motor |2 elevates the pressure head 126-to its raised position shown in Fig. 1.

A carriage 27 is mounted on rollers 29 for movement along the track |0. These rollersp'referably'consist of ballorroller bearings, the inner race of whichis secured to the carriage 21 by bolts 30 threadedly engaged in the carriage, the outer race of the bearing serving as theperipha eralsdrfaceof the roller. This furnishes a carriage whichis easily rolled throughout the length of the tracklll The track H] is preferably inclined very slightly to the front of the machine, 1. e., to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 the inclination being such as.to slightly bias the carriage to the front end of the track. A stapes secured to the track l0, prevents the carriage 2'! from rolling off heirqnt n s the ash; Two runways 3| are positioned above the top surface ofthe track l0 and-serve as bearing surfacesio'r the rollers 29 throughout the length of the track. Asbestseen in Fig. 3 semi-elliptical springs 32,32 are secured to the under side of each runway 3|. These springs bear directly on the track I0, serving to maintain the runways 3| normally'slightly raised from; the top surface. of the track Ill. Any suitable arrangement may be employed to prevent displacementof the runways 3|, 3| in a plane parallel to the top surface of track lil.

. A raised central portion runs longitudinally of the track l0 and serves to guide'the rollers 29 along the runways 3|, 3| The central portion 35 of the track H) has v an even upper surface 36 which is normally slightly spaced from a parallel lower surface 31 of the carriage 21, see Figs. 5 and 6. -This space is slightly less than the space between the under surface of the runways 3|, 3| and the runway-supporting surface of thetrack lflr for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. 'A stop 39, Fig. 1, may be positioned at the rear end of the track |0 to prevent the carriage 21 from being accidentally pushed oif the rear end of the track. The track assembly is completed by'two Z-shaped strips 40, 40 one flange of each of which is secured to the track l0 adjacent the runways- 3| 3|, the other flange of each overhangingthe 4 rollers 29 so as to protect the rollers from accidental damage and retain the carriage 21 against displacement from the track.

Referring to Fig. 8, the head bar which this machine is particularly adapted to assemble comprises a light gage metal channel 4| which has previously had a plurality of pairs of tabs, such as the dual pairs of tabs 42, 42and the single pair of tabs 43, 43 struck from the bottom web and projecting inwardly approximately perpendicular to the bottom of the channel. The four tabs 42 are of such size and position as to cooperate with the four slots 44 of the Venetian blind fitting 38. size, and position to cooperate with slots in the fitting. The end braces 48, 48 may .be applied by another machine prior to the operation described herein.

The carriage 21 has a fixture mounted .thereon for each fitting to be positioned along the length of the head bar channel 4|, the instant machine having four fixtures 45, 46, 41 and 49 positioned in spaced relation along the top face of the carriage. Each of the fixtures has a plurality of upwardly projecting fingers arranged to receive a particular fitting. and index it on the channel. As to each fixture the size and arrangement of fingers is such that the fingers will pass through the respective holes in the fitting and thence through the respective slots left in the channel 4| bythe striking up of the tabs such as tabs 42'-a'nd 43. The fixtures 45, 46 and 49 are of different shape for receiving different fittings. The fixture 41 in the machine shown is similar to the fixture 46, inasmuch as both of thesefixtures are to receive similar fittings. While the various fixtures have certain differences, they possess many features of similarity. Accordingly, the fixture will be described in detail, it being understood that the other fixtures are generally similar except as otherwise noted.

The fixture 45. has four upwardly projecting fingers 50 so arrangedthatthe upper portions thereof will pass through the slots 44 in the fitting 38as well as the slots 43! in the channel 4 Each of the fingers 50 is provided with a step or anvil portion 5 linwardly projecting at a slight inclination to the horizontaLas best shown in Fig, 5, all of the four step-portions 5| being'at acommon .elevation and serving'to deflect the down- Wardly projecting tabs 42 of the channel 4| into clinchingposition as will be hereinafter described. The fixture 45 is provided with four strippers 52,-see particularly Figs. '2 and 3. Similarstrip- Q pers ;are incorporated in each of the other fixtures Each stripper 52. is mounted for reciprocatory motion in a stepped bore 54 (Fig. 3) in the base of the fixture, the stripper having a head portion 55toretain it within the bore 54. A compression spring 56, positioned within the bore 54, biases the stripper 52 upwardly'so as to normally maintain the stripper in raised position. A plug 51, threadedly engeged in, the lower end of the bore .54, serves to close the bottom of the bore and as an abutment for the spring 56. In normal raised position the upper, ends of the strippers 52are positioned at a level between the step pore tions 5| andthe top of the fingers 50. The fixtures 46 and 49 are similarly provided with strip pers and fingers, the size and position of the fingers varying, as well as the spacing of the strippers, to correspond with the fitting to be received.

Thefixture 45 is provided with ablock 59,.best shown; Figs. 2 and 3, mounted between two of the fingers 50. The block 59 is so shaped and The two tabs 43 are of such' positionedin relationto the" configurations of the several fittings that onlythe fitting 38 will fit on this fixture, and this fitting in only one rotative position. This assures correct selection and assembly of the fittings onthe channel 4|. Similarly, blocks 6!], 60 positioned on the fixtures 46 and 41. assure that the fittings to be positioned on these fixtures will be properly selected and properly positioned. Likewise a block 5| on the fixture 14.9 assures the correct selection and positioning of the desired fitting on thisfixture;

"The bottom facev of the plunger or pressure head '26, shown in Fig. 7,-has pairs ofchannels 6 1 and B8 10f proper spacing. and size to .pass over the endsuof the fingers 50, as well as the fingers on the other fixtures 46, 141 and 49, the same pressure head being usedin conjunction with allof'the fixtures. The pressure head 26 and air motor IZ-:are so positioned above the track ||l that, by rolling the carriage 21 rearwardly, any of the fixtures 45, 46, 41 and 49 can be positioneddirectly under the pressure head.

In the assembly of a head bar, .as shown in Fig. 8, the several fittings are first positioned on the fixtures 45, 46,41 and 49, the configuration of-these fixtures as well as the spacing of the fingers assuring that the proper fitting is positioned :in the proper position on eachfixture as explained above, Forexample, the fitting 38 is placed in inverted position on the fixture 45,

positioned at the proper elevation eachfside of thecarriage .21 and, parallel to. thestrackHi'fl, each of theserods being supported from the bracket I4 as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig.

, 5,=:the channel 4| is positioned with the tabs 42 projecting through. thexslots 44 in the fitting 38;.thefingers50 projecting through the slots 43' in the channel. Inasmuch as thespacing of the tabs is difierent-for the severallfittings which are different, each fixture will reject the channel 4-|-;.if' the attempt is made to nest an incorrect, zone thereof with the fixture.

=Afterthe channel 4| has been positioned on the fixture 45, the fitting 38' having already been positioned-thereon, thechannel 4| is pushed rearweirdly, moving the'carriage'withit, until the channel .contacts a'stop. 64 positioned on the bracket M at which time the 'fixture'4'5 will be in the proper position directlybeneath'the pressurej head 26. After so positioning thefixture 45 .theoperator depresses the pedal 2|, whereupon the pressure head 26 moves' downwardly and forcesthe channel 4| and fitting38 downwardly on the fixture 45, due to pressure applied to the channel. Upon the channel '4 and fitting 38.being forced downwardly, the-tabs 42 of the channel contact the'step portions 5 of the fingers 53 and are" laterally deflected inwardly into the position shown-in FigL 6. In this position the tabs 42 have been clinched about the bottom plate 62 of the fitting 38, thus firmly securing thefitting in place-on the channel;

.As the pressurehead 2B forces the assembly comprising. the fitting 33 and the channel4| downwardly, the strippers 52 are-likewisedopressed by the fitting 3B, compressing the springs 56. Upon release of the pedal J2 the pressure head 26 returns to raised position, and as it returns, the springs 53 will return thestrippers 52 to their normally raised position-thus raising the assembled channel 4| and fitting'38 to the'upper portion of the fingers 5|l,from which the assembly may easily be removed by the operator.- The strippers 52 also serve to maintain the fitting 38 firmly against the channel -4| during the clinching operation.

The carriage 21 moves along the track In on therollers 29 as previouslydescribed. In order to more firmly support the carriage 21 and'avoid a relatively l'argeload on the rollers 29 during-the clinching-operation, the runways3| havebeen mounted on springs as already described. As the plunger 26 descends pressure on the fixture 45 firstcompresses the springs 32, thus serving to depress the runways-3| and lower the carriage 21 so that the under surface 3! of the carriage is in contact with the upper surface 36' of the raisedcentral portion of the track H). This furnishes firm support for the fixture, passing the load from'the pressure head 26 directly to the bed ofthe track without-subjectingthe rollers 29 to this load. ,In similar manner-the other fittings are'successively assembled on the head bar 4| by use oi the fixtureslfi, 41 and 49. In the assembly opera tioh; it has been'found-expedient to first-position all of the fittings to be assembled on'a single channel 4|, on the severalfixtures while the carriage 21 is resting against the stop 34 at the front by the machine operator and pressure head 26 actuated to clinch the tabs of the channel around the fitting. 1' Whereas. fixtures 45 and 49 each have four fingers, fixtures and 41 each have two fingers 65 hich extend for the widthof the fixture, as shown in Fig. 2. This corresponds withthewide tabs 43 stamped from the channel for attach ing the center two of the four fittings. Thestep portion 61 of each of these fingers corresponding with the-step portions 5| of the-fingersiiflbut extending the fullwidth of the fixture; is preferably at a rnuch greater angle with the-horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, than the portions-5|'. This is for the purpose of clinch-ing the tabs66 to a lesser extent, certain advantages inthe completed head bar arisin'g'from such construction as is pointed out in my pendin application previouslyi-dentified.

While the form of the invention illustrated has been described in connection with the assembly of'fittings on a channel-shaped metal head bar, the invention in its broader aspects is capableof application to other types of 'head bars as well as-head bars in which the fittings are secured in place by means other than that shown and'jde scribed herein.

I claim': o 1. Amachine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising: a fixture adapted to support a fitting and a super imposed head bar having portions thereof telescoped with portions of the fitting. means for forcing the head bar and fitting against thefix- V ture to deform the telescoped portions and secure the-fitting on the head bar; a' track for supporting and guiding the fixture to the forcing means, and means supporting the fixture for movement along 7 the track, the fixture being resiliently mounted to permit it to bear directly against the track upon actuation of the forcing means.

2. A machine for assembling fittings on a Venetian blind'head bar, saidmachine comprising: a fixture adapted to support a fitting and a superimposed head bar having portions thereof telescoped with portions of the fitting, means for forcing the head bar and fitting against the fixture to deform the telescoped portions and secure the fitting on the headbar, a track for supporting and guiding the fixture to the forcing means, and rollers movably supporting the fixture on the tracklthe track including resilient members deformable by the forcing means to permit the fixture to bear directly upon the track.

3. A machine for assembling afitting on a Venetian blind head bar, said machine comprising a press having a pressure head movable in a fixed path for uniting a head bar and a fitting by deformation of a connecting tab, and a fixture positionable in the path of the pressure head and shaped to support a fitting with the base thereof exposed to receive the head bar, the fixture including a resilient support for the fitting that is displaceable to permit displacement of the fitting as the head bar is forced towards the fixture by the pressure head, the fixture also being provided with surfaces adjacent the fitting for deflecting tabs extending from the head bar as the;head bar is forced towards the fixture by the pressure head, and the fixture additionally being provided with projecting tongues adapted to telescopically receive the fitting and the head bar to aid in maintaining the parts in assembled relation during the attachment. c 4. A machine for assembling a series of fittings with a Venetian blind headbar and securing them thereto, the series of fittings including a plurality of dissimilar fittings, said machine comprising: a series of fixtures, each fixture beingcontoured to telescopically receive a fitting of the series in only one oriented-position with the base of the fitting exposed, and each fixture being contoured to reject all dissimilar fittings of the series, a carriage mounting the fixtures, said, carriage beingsupported for movement back and forth along a fixed path, and a press located at one point along the path of movement of the carriage for securing the fittings to-the head bar by deforming portions of one of the parts into interlocking engagement with theother part, the fixtures being mounted side'by side on the carriage and in alignment with itspath of movement.

5.- A machine for assembling a series of fittings with a Venetian blind head bar and securing them thereto, the series of fittings including a plurality of dissimilar fittings, said machine comprising: a series of fixtures, each fixture being contoured to telescopically receive a fitting of the series in only one oriented position with the base of the fitting uppermost, and each fixture being contoured to reject all dissimilar fittings of the series, a carriage mounting the fixtures, said car riage being supported for movement back and forthalong a fixed path, and a press located at onepoint abovezthe path of movement of the carriage and operating in a direction towards said path of movement for securing .the fittings to the head bar by deformin l o'rtions of .qne of the parts into interlocking engagement with the other part,,the fixtures beingimounted 4 (Y J I i t D the carriage anamangnm it its path of e by-s de on:

movement so as, to be positionable ating path of the press. 7

6. A machine for assembling a series of fittings with a Venetian blind head bar and securingthem thereto, the series of fittingsincl'uding' a plurality of dissimilar fittings, said machine comprising:' a series of fixtures, each fixturev being contoured to telescopically receive a fitting of the series .in only one oriented position with the base of the fitting exposed, and each fixture being contoured to reject all dissimilar fittings of the series, a carriage mounting the fixtures, ahorizo'ntally extending track supporting the carriage for back and forward movementalong the track in a fixed path, and a press located atone point above the track for securing the fittings to the :head bar by deforming portions of one of the partsinto interlocking engagement'with the other part,- the fixtures being mounted side by side on the carriage and in alignment with its path of movement along the track. I

'7. The method of assembling a series of fittings with a Venetian blind head bar and securing them thereto, the fittings in the completed-assembly being distributed along the head bar and the series of fittings including a plurality of dissimilar fittings, said method comprising: arranging the fittings in the order in which they are to be/distributed along the head'bar andsupporting them with their bases exposed on closely spaced individualfixtures, each fixture being contoured to receive a specific fitting of the series and to reject all dissimilar fittings of theseries, placing the head bar in assembled relation with the first fitting, moving that fitting and its fixture, together with-the head bar; to a'position adjacent a force-applying means, utilizing the forceeapplying means todeform portionsof the head bar into interlocking engagement with the first fitting,.and thenproceeding seriatim to the in the operremaining fittingsand assembling and securing,

each to the head barbythe aforesaidprocedure used for assembling and securing'the first fitting.-

8. The method of assembling a, series of fittings with a. Venetian blind head bar and securing them thereto, the fittings" in the completed'as-i sembly being distributed-along the head-barand the series of fittings includinga plurality of dissimilar fittings, said method comprising: supporting the fittings in succession with :their bases exposed, on closely spaced individual fixtures, each fixture being contoured to receive a specific fitting of the series and to rejectallidissimilarfittings of the series,placing the-head bar in: assembled-relation with one of the: fittings, mov-" ing that fitting, and its. fixture, together withthe head-bar, to a position adjacent a force applying means, utilizing the force-applying meansto de,-' forma connector telescoped with one of the parts into interlocking engagement therewith,:and then proceeding to the remaining fittings andassembling and securingeach to the head bar by the aforesaid procedure used for assembling and sew. curingthe first fitting. j c 9. The methodiof assembling a series of fit-' tings. with a Venetian blind. head. bar provided with bendabletabs for receiving the fittingsand bending the tabs; to secure the. fittings to the head bar, the fittings in, the completed assemblyv being distributed along the head bar and the series of fittings including a, plurality of dissimi-' lar fittings, said methodcomprisingz' arranging; the fittings in the order in which they are to be distributed along the head bar and supporting them with their bases uppermost on closely spaced individual fixtures, each fixture being contoured to receive a specific fitting of the series and to reject all dissimilar fittings of the series, superimposing the head bar in inverted position on the first fitting with tabs of the head bar interfitted with the base of the fitting, moving that fitting and its fixture, together, with the head bar, to a position beneath the press, utilizing the press to bend the tabs into interlocking engagement with the base of the fitting, and then proceeding seriatim to the remaining fittings and assembling and securing each to the head bar by the aforesaid procedure used for assembling and securing the first fitting.

10. The method of assembling a series of fittings With a Venetian blind head bar provided With bendable tabs for receiving the fittings and bending the tabs to secure the fittings to the head bar, the fittings in the completed assembly being distributed along the head bar and the series of fittings including a plurality of dissimilar fittings, said method comprising:' supporting the fittings in regular order with their bases uppermost on closely spaced individual fixtures, each fixture being contoured to receive a specific fitting of the series and to reject all dissimilar fittings of the series, superimposing the head bar in inverted po- 10 sition on a fitting with tabs of the head bar interfitted with the base of the fitting, moving that fitting and its fixture, together with the head bar,

' to a position beneath the press, utilizing the press to bend the tabs into interlocking engagement with the base of the fitting, and then proceeding seriatim to the remaining fittings and assembling and securing each to the head bar by the aforesaid procedure used for assembling and securing the first fitting.

HARRY NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

